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Compare towns

McColl vs Estill

164 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (2× in Estill) and home values (+67% in Estill).

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McColl, SCOne of the healthiest townsSouth Carolina · 2,200 people
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Estill, SCHomes around $91KSouth Carolina · 1,886 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

McCollOne of the healthiest towns
Health98% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Housing$136K typical home55% below the SC typical home SchoolsBetter than 10%of SC districts All about McColl →
EstillHomes around $91K
Housing$91K typical home70% below the SC typical home SafetySafer than 1%of U.S. towns we grade Health95% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Estill →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Property tax bill2×
Tax bills are bigger in Estill
Estill $800McColl $410
Home values+67%
Homes cost more in Estill
Estill $94,100McColl $56,300
Street grid2.7×
McColl has the more walkable street grid
McColl 122Estill 45.0
Average commute11 min
McColl has the shorter commute
Estill 37 minMcColl 26 min
Homeowners+12 pts renters
McColl has more renters
Estill 57.5%McColl 45.5%
Growth since 2010+5.9 pts
McColl has grown faster since 2010
McColl -4.8%Estill -10.7%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $260 more a month in McColl

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

McColl$800/mo
Typical home $136K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.73% · or rent about $456/mo · Housing →
Estill$540/mo
Typical home $91K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.85% · or rent about $745/mo · Housing →

The difference: $260 a month, about $3,100 a year, between McColl and Estill.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every South Carolina ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
–McCollNot graded D−EstillSafer than 1% of U.S. towns
Schools
DMcCollBetter than 10% of districts in the state –EstillNot graded
Health
D−McCollHealthier than 2% of U.S. towns D−EstillHealthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
McCollEstill
Snow a year1″0″
January low33°F39°F
July high93°F92°F
Growing season (days)239d267d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)67th82nd
Outdoors & history
McCollEstill
Trails—2 mi
Conserved land—1.3%
National Register places—2
Archive photos18—
Famous people born here1—
Community
McCollEstill
Library hours a week—39 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

164 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

McCollSCEstillSC
McColl ↔ Estill164 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

McCollEstill
People
Population 2,200Highest 1,886Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -4.8%Highest SC: +10.7% -10.7%Lowest SC: +10.7%
Median age 28.2±7.3Lowest 30% below SC 33.4±8.7Highest 17% below SC
Estill and McColl are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 35.6%±5.9Highest SC: 21.4% 22.2%±7.6Lowest SC: 21.4%
McColl and Estill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 18.1%±3.3Highest SC: 18.9% 17.9%±2.2Lowest SC: 18.9%
McColl and Estill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 3%Lowest SC: 32.1% 5.5%Highest SC: 32.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.6%±1.3Lowest SC: 5.7% 1.4%±1.7Highest SC: 5.7%
Estill and McColl are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $26,638±$7kLowest 62% below SC $36,111±$9kHighest 48% below SC
Estill and McColl are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $56,300±$11kLowest 78% below SC $94,100±$7kHighest 64% below SC
Rentmedian gross, monthly $456±$113Lowest 61% below SC $745±$186Highest 37% below SC
Estill and McColl are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $410Lowest 67% below SC $800Highest 36% below SC
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 47.6%±41.1Lowest SC: 52.1% 67.2%±20.1Highest SC: 52.1%
Estill and McColl are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 41.9%Highest SC: 14.1% 24.4%Lowest SC: 14.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 45.5%Lowest SC: 71.9% 57.5%Highest SC: 71.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1977 15 yrs older than SC 1977 15 yrs older than SC
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 26 minLowest about the SC average 37 minHighest 43% above SC
Work from home 2.2%±3.1Lowest SC: 11.5% 4.2%±2.9Highest SC: 11.5%
Estill and McColl are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 4%Lowest 5.7%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 22.3 miLowest 35.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.37Lowest 0.59Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Laurinburg (11%)Hampton (8%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in EstillFew work in McColl
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.8%Lowest 1.3%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 1.5 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.4 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 122Highest 45.0Lowest
Schools
School district Marlboro 01—
High school in town None in town—
South Carolina average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

McColl neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to McColl’s Town Square.

Estill neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Estill’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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